Suspended ceiling grid construction



JUIYZS 195.9 K w. v. wlLDE 21,896,752

SUSPENDED c EILING GRID CONSTRUCTION Filed May ll, 1956 United StatesPatent SUSPENDED CEILING GRID CONSTRUCTION William V. Wilde, Portland,Ore'g.

Application May 11, 1956, Serial No. 584,249

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-356) panels for decorative, acoustical, or lightreilecting purposes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel means forinterlocking the cross runners of the grid framework to the maincarrying runners in a simplilied manner Vthat will reduce the timenormally required for installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connection betweenceiling grid members having a positive locking connection between thegrid members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a connection betweenceiling grid members having a positive locking connection between thegrid members and which is capable of being manually disengaged from eachother without deformation to either member or the connector mechanism tofacilitate rearrangement of grid members, complete disassembly, orprovide large openings for access to the area above the suspendedceiling.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ceiling gridconstruction having simplicity of design, economy of construction andeiliciency in operation.

Briefly, the novel connection between grid members, according to thepresent invention, is achieved by providing offset ears or loops on eachside of the main runners at given intervals and providing slots ofsemi-keyhole shape for the reception of clips including hook-likeportions having detents for insertion in said slots and that aresecurely fastened to the ends of the cross member. The clip at each end`of the cross member may be an integral part thereof but it "ispreferred, however, to fabricate the clips separately to effect economyof material and simplicity in manufacture.

The novel featuresthat are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with p-articularity in the appended-claims. The inventionitself, however,vboth as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of a specic embodimentwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference characters indicate like parts through the several gures andin which:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a suspended grid ceiling withsome of the ceiling panels installed;

Figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the adjoining portions ofthe grid members and the connection therebetween;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary'cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 31;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2, andVFigure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar toFigure 4 and illustrating two cross members connected to the mainrunner.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, specifically to Figure 1, atypical suspended ceiling comprises a grid construction formed by mainrunners 1 and cross members 2 connected to one another in continuousgrid formation. These main runners 1 and the cross members 2 are ofT-section and are positioned in inverted relation with their webs Wdisposed vertically and their flanges F beneath the webs and disposedhorizontally.

Ceiling panels P are mounted on the grid assembly with edges lnestingwithin the webs W of opposed runners and cross members and resting onthe anges F thereof.

The structure, that is the cross-sectional conformation of the runners 1and cross members 2 is substantially identical and preferably they areformed of strips 3 of sheet material which are bent to shape, as bestshown in Figure 2. The strips 3 of sheet material are bent intermediate'their longitudinal edges 7 and 9 in a right angle bend 4, the portion'between the bend 4 and edge 7 forming the flange F, `and the portionbetween the bend 4 and edge 9 forming the `web W. To form the crossflange F, that portion of the strip between the bend 4 and the edge 7 isbent at a'point spaced from the bend 4 ina reverse bend 5. The stripportion adjacent the edge 7 is bent in a second reverse bend 6substantially equispaced with the bend 5 from the right angle bend 4 toprovide the branches of the ange F with substantially equal width andthickness. Thefstripadjacent the edge 9 is bent in a U-bend 8 to providea channel 8 at the top of the web W. This provides a rigid and strong Tbar made from relatively thin sheet material. The main runners 1 may beprovided with apertures 23 for the attachment of the usual suspensionmeans, such as wires or the like.

The connector means for securing the cross members 2 to the main runners1 comprises ears or loops 10 and 11 respectively extending from oppositesides of the web W of the main runner 1 and in line with the position ofthe cross members 2. These ears or loops 10 and 11 are preferably struckfrom the web W and formed mmediat'ely adjacent each other and at spacedintervals longitudinally of -the web W. The loops are of two differentdepths as best shown in Figure 3, and include an upper part 12relatively widely spaced and a lower part 13 relatively closely spacedfrom the web W so that 'the space or slot provided between each loop andthe'adjacent side of the web is of semi-keyhole shape, thatis, a keyholedivided down the middle by a straight line.

Cooperative With the ears or loops 10 and 11 is a finger or hook-likeelement 14 at each end of the cross members 2, -andwhile these elementsmay be integral with the webs W, preferably they are formed as part of aclip 17 attached at each end of the web. Each element 14 extends atright angles to the Web W or the clip 17, as the case may be, at eachend of the cross members 2 and the elements at opposite ends of themembers` 2 are on oppositely disposed sides of the web W. The element 14has a main horizontal body portion 16 which terminates ina downwardlyextending finger 15, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, the bodyportion 16 having a length substantially equal to the width of a loop 10or 11. Each element 14 is provided at the juncture of Athe horizontalportion 16 and finger 15 with a protrusion or detent 19 extending fromthe finger toward the cross member a distance less than the spacing ofthe portions 12 but greater than that of the portions 13.

The clip 17 (is illustrated vas being formed by a separate plate orpiece of sheet material, which is fitted in the channel 8 and secured tothe web W of the cross member 2, as by spot welds 18. The ends 20 of theflanges F of the cross members 2 are recessed from the fingers 14 adistance equal to the width of the branches of'the flanges F of therunners 1, either by notches formed in said members or by offsetting theclips 17 relative to the ends of said members. At their upper corners,the webs W or clips 17 are provided with notches 22 to accommodate theU-bends 8 of the webs W of the main runners 1. In order to maintain thecenter lines of the cross members 2 in alignment with one another onopposite sides of the main runners 1, the webs W or clips 17 areprovided, immediately adjacent the lingers 14, with offsets 24 half thethickness of the webs W or clips 17.

In assembly, the end of a cross member 2 is abutted against the side ofa main runner 1 and raised slightly so that the detent 19 will passthrough the enlarged portion 12 of a loop 10 or 11 as the cross memberis moved sidewise in the direction of the arrow (Figure When the'iinger15 has passed through the loop, the end of the member is lowered to the-postion shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, so that the cross member will bebe securely locked in the fixed position shown in these views, with thedeten-t 19 engaged behind the edge 13A of the narrow portion 13 of theloop, assisting the tip ofthe linger from being withdrawn or tipped outof position. The end of the flange F of the cross member is adapted toengage the adjacent edge of the flange F of the main runner so that whenthe cross member is fully connected, a Very rigid construction isobtained. Furthermore, due to the fact that the lingers 14 on theopposite ends of the cross members are on the opposite side of the websW, the connections at opposite ends brace the members against theoppositely disposed connection to the adjacent runner and helps toprevent the cross members 2 from twisting after being brought in place.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described, it is obvious thaty many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Connecting means for ceiling grid members having vertically disposedweb portions, comprising a vertically disposed loop on the web portionof one member with the upper portion of said loop extending farther fromthe web portion than the lower portion of said loop and forming with theweb portion a vertically extending slot of semi-keyhole shape with theupper portion wider than the lower portion thereof, and a flat hook-likeportion on the end ofthe web portion of another member disposedperpendicular to the one member, said hooklike portionV being at rightangles to its web portion and including a horizontal portion secured tothe web portion and a downwardly extending finger on the free end ofsaid horizontal portion and spaced from the web portion,

said horizontal portion having a length substantially equal to the widthof said loop and said finger being of such size that it may pass throughsaid loop whereby said hook-like portion extends through said loop withsaid finger and web portion snugly straddling said loop, and a `detenton said hook-like portion at the junction of said horizontal portion andsaid linger and protruding from said hook-like portion a distancegreater than the narrow portion but less than the wider portion of saidslot and abuts the adjacent edge of said loop retaining Said hook-likeportion in said loop after said' detent has been passed through the wideportion of said slot and lowered into juxtaposition with the narrowportion thereof. f

2. Connecting means for ceiling grid members including main runners andcross-members disposed penpendicularly between the main runners and eachhaving Verrtivally disposedy web portions and horizontal flangessupporting ceiling panels, comprising two vertically disposed loops inside-by-side relation on the web portion of said main runners, saidloops extending from opposite sides -of the web portion with the upperportion of each said loop extending farther from the web portion thanthe lower portion of each said loop and each forming withr the webportion a vertically extending slot of semikeyhole shape with the upperportion wider than the lower portion thereof, and a flat hook-likeportionv on each end ofthe webportion of saidV crossmembers, each oflsaid hook-like'portions beingV at right angles to its web portion andincluding a horizontal portion secured to the' web portion and adownwardly extending finger onthe free end of said horizontaly portionand spacedV from the web portion; said horizontal portion having alength substantially equal to the width of saidv loop and said fingerlbeing of such size that it may pass through said loop wherebysaid-hook-like portion extends through said loop with'said lingerand'web portion snugly straddling said loop, and a detent on saidhook-like portion atthe junction of said horizontal portionand saidfinger and protruding `from said hook-like portion a distance greaterthan the narrow portion but less thanfthe wider portion of said slot andabuts the adjacent edge of said` loop retaining said hook-like portionin said loop after said detent has been passed through the wide portionof said slot and lowered into juxtaposition with the. narrowportionthereof, saidy loops and hook-like portions' being relativelyloffset and positioning the web portions of said cross-members onopposite sides of said main run# ners in alignment.

References Cited in the le ofV this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' Re.12,922 coiiins Feb. 23, 1909' Y 490,921 Peet Jan. 31, 1893V 511,383White Dee.y 26, 1893 893,815' schuit July. 21, 190s 1,090,171 SchislerMar. 17, 1914 ,1,118,979` weiss Dec; 1, 1914 1,537,459 Campbell May 12,1925' FoRErGN: PATENTS 397,496 GreatBrirain Aug. 213, 1933

